PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Seaman Kurt Spurlock, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, serves aboard USS William P. Lawrence, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and participating in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Isaiah Williams |
Spurlock graduated from West Davidson High School in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Winston-Salem.
“My hometown taught me how to adapt. It opened my eyes to how to effectively deal with challenges,” said Spurlock. "It also instilled a work ethic in me."
Spurlock joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Spurlock serves as a logistics specialist.
“I joined the Navy because I've always wanted to join the military,” said Spurlock. "Joining felt like a necessity. I was in a bad situation and had to finish high school while living with a friend. I realized that I needed to take immediate action in my life if I wanted things to get better."
As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in RIMPAC 2024. This exercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2024 marks the 29th exercise in a series that began in 1971.
The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” The participating nations and forces exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.
Spurlock plays an important role in the exercise.
“My role in RIMPAC involves ensuring that all personnel have the necessary parts for repairs and operations," said Spurlock. "Supply replenishment, flight operations, helicopter logistics, and handling transactions for parts, money, vehicles, and fuel are essential aspects of my responsibilities. During RIMPAC, our job continues regardless of what event is taking place. Working alongside other ships in port makes communication easier and strengthens relationships when ships are in close proximity."
Spurlock serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means I get to better myself as a person,” said Spurlock. "Seeing different people succeed helps me realize how far I can take my career. Being recognized for my work gives me further perspective and motivation to further my service."
Spurlock is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my grandma, Judy Thomas, who has been a great support figure for me since I started high school,” added Spurlock. "Realistically, without her, I wouldn't have made it this far and wouldn't be the person I am today."
Spurlock offered words of advice for fellow sailors.
“No matter how hard things get, always be your best the next day,” added Spurlock."Don't let one tough day ruin everything, because you always have work tomorrow."
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2024 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, Vice Adm. John Wade, who will serve as Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. For the first time in RIMPAC history, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the CTF. Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will serve as vice commander. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of Canada, who will command the maritime component, and Air Commodore Louise Desjardins of Australia, who will command the air component.
During RIMPAC, a network of capable, adaptive partners train and operate together in order to strengthen their collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2024 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict.
More information about RIMPAC is available here: https://www.cpf.navy.mil/RIMPAC/